A Business Process is a structured sequence of interdependent activities that transforms inputs into value-added outputs to fulfill specific business objectives. Processes represent the operational workflows that execute business capabilities, coordinate resources, and deliver products or services to customers or stakeholders in repeatable, measurable ways.
Comprehensive business processes encompass several key components: triggers initiating process execution; activities representing individual work units; decisions directing workflow based on conditions; roles defining participant responsibilities; information requirements specifying data needs; systems supporting execution; handoffs transferring work between participants; and metrics measuring process performance. These components collectively create end-to-end workflows connecting individual activities into coherent operational sequences.
For CIOs and CTOs, business processes provide essential operational context for technology decisions by identifying automation opportunities that improve efficiency; highlighting integration requirements between functional areas; establishing performance requirements for technical solutions; revealing process inefficiencies requiring technical intervention; and creating alignment between system capabilities and operational needs. They transform technology from abstract capabilities to concrete workflow enablers.
Within architecture practice, business processes serve as the dynamic complement to static business capabilities: capabilities define what the organization can do, while processes describe how capabilities are executed in operation. This connection enables critical architecture activities including process optimization identifying operational improvements; application portfolio mapping connecting systems to processes; automation analysis determining technology enablement opportunities; and organizational impact assessment for transformation initiatives.
Modern process management has evolved significantly beyond traditional workflow optimization. Contemporary approaches incorporate customer journey alignment ensuring processes deliver cohesive experiences; adaptive case management enabling knowledge worker flexibility; intelligent process automation applying AI for decision-making; real-time monitoring enabling proactive intervention; and continuous process mining analyzing actual execution patterns. These evolutions transform processes from rigid procedural sequences to flexible, insight-driven workflows that adapt continuously to changing business conditions and customer expectations.
« Back to Glossary Index